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Holiday planning tips
How to have a great time without spending too much money?
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Such a
beautiful time of the year has unfortunately also become
the most
hectic
and stressful for a lot of people. But it does not
have to be like that. It also does not have to be a time
to
overspend and
get into debt so that you will suffer long after the
holidays are gone. Here are a few simple tips to
keep it all in perspective:
Decide what you want for the holidays:
Traditions are great but if you do not really enjoy them,
ask yourself, do I really want this? After all how many
Christmas-themed ties can a man wear? Make changes
to your traditions. Here are a few examples. My friend’s
sister donates money in his name to a charity. One makeup
artist I know celebrates Christmas after the date so that
she can
travel to see her family more comfortably and cheaper.
A
vegetarian friend makes
vegetarian dishes for her family’s dinner. So you
don’t have to cook a massive turkey just to maintain the
tradition. (Related:
Christmas for singles) |
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Plan ahead: Once you
decide what you want, plan ahead.
Set a calendar now and put dates for preparing and
sending out Christmas cards, set your menu, and plan other
holiday activities. (Related:
How to prepare for Christmas)
Buy ahead of time and be a smart shopper:
And use the
Internet for shopping as much as you can. Not only are
the prices lower, the choices wider, you also avoid all
the rush on the roads and in the malls. Plus, the online
retailers will ship your presents too. You will save a ton
of time in packing the gifts and then standing in line at
the post office. And while you can buy on specialty
websites, but you don’t have to. Discount retailers like
Target and Wal-Mart also offer lower prices and more
choices online. |
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Budget: While
it is difficult to stick to a budget when you are
immersed in
 the
holiday spirit, it is even more difficult to
pay large credit card bills afterwards. If you
will miss payments or pay high interest on your
credit card, it will hurt you – your
credit score may suffer plus you will end up
paying a lot more in the end. So set your budget
and stick to it.
Plan for yourself: Get your
appointments for haircuts,
hair color,
manicure, pedicure, etc. Holidays are about
looking great, enjoying the time with friends
and family but that does not meaning pigging out.
Only eat what you rally love. Do not force
yourself to eat just because there is food in
front of you. According to several studies, most
of the calories that people accumulate during the
holidays stay with them forever. (Related:
Weight control tips for the holidays) |
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